Safety device for firearms



y 1962 s. c. WOMBLE, JR

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS III/III,

Filed 001:. 26, 1959 INVENTOR. Slzezman C. Womble J11 KJMYRKDM ited States;

3,031,787 Patented May 1, 1962 Pic This invention is directedto, and it is a major object to provide, a novel safety device for firearms,-such as pistols, shotguns, or rifles; the device being adapted, as an initially separate attachment, for enclosing engagement on the trigger guard of the firearm whereby to prevent dis-.

charge thereof by inadvertent or accidental movement of the trigger. i

Another object of this invention is to provide a safety device for firearms which embodies a rigid, one-piece protective sheath adapted to receive and enclose the trigger guard of the firearm; such sheath having a cushion lining which not only compensates for slight variations in the shape of the trigger guards of different firearms, but also protects the enclosed trigger guard from being scratched or marred by said sheath. 1

Still another'object of this invention is to provide the safety device with a novel arrangement for locking the sheath in place on, and against unauthorized removal from, the trigger guard of the firearm. h

An additional object of the invention is to provide a safety device for firearms, as above, wherein the locking arrangementin modificationis associated with a mount, to theend that the firearm can be supported from a fixed member, suchas a wall-or shelf, for commercial or home display and for protection against theft.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety device of the type described wherein the protective sheath incorporates a permanent magnet which serves the purpose of quick-detachably holding said sheath in place on the trigger guard preparatory to the aforementioned locking arrangementbeing applied, or during periods of tem poraryuse and when such locking arrangementisnot needed. j

It'is also an objectof the invention to provide a safety guard for firearms which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, and convenience of use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable safety device for firearms,

and one which will be exceedingly effective for the Pllf',

with the safety device in place thereon.

FIG 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking pin, detached. p h

FIG. 3'is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of the sa'fetydeviceas shown in FIG. .1; the pistol being shown only impart, I; I r

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate modifications wherein the lock ing pin is included in a mount which permits/the. firearm to be effectively supported from a fixed member.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference markednthereon, and at present to FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, the safety device comprises arigid, one-piece protective sheath 1, of metal or plastic; such sheath being generally trough-like, open top and rear, and shaped to encompass the trigger guard 2 of a firearm 3. Such firearm, for the purpose of illustration is here shown-in FIG. 1-as a pistol, but it is understood that the safety device is equally well adapted fig use on other types of firearms, such as shotguns or When the sheath 1 is in place on the trigger guard 2 the trigger 4 of the firearm 3 is, completely enclosed and thus shielded against accidental engagement, and which would cause undesired discharge of said firearm.

The sheath 1 includes a bottomS and sides 6, and said sheath is provided-on the 1DSid6--Witl'1 a full cushion lining 7 of foam rubber or the like. Such cushion lining not only prevents scratching or marring of the engaged parts of the firearm, but also permits the sheathl to be used on firearms wherein there may be a slight variation in the shape of the trigger guard .2; the cushion lining 7 compensating for such variation.

Also, from the standpoint of economy of manufacture, one basic sheath 1 can be provided to fit over the trigger guard of all pistols, shot guns, or rifles, with initially separate selective sized liners 7 to compensate for any loose play; the selected liner being manually inserted in the sheath and held in place by a suitable adhesive.

The following locking" arrangement is employed to secure thesheath 1 on the trigger guard 2'and against unauthorized removal therefrom:

At a point ahead of the position occupied by the trigger 4, and above the cushion .lining.7. at the bottom 5 of the sheath, the sides 6 are formedwitli transversely alined bores 8 and 9 which also open through the'cushion lining 7. After the sheath is slipped onto the trigger guard 2 an initially separate cross pin 10 is inserted through the bores 8 and 9. The relative position of the parts is such that the bottom of said cross pin then is closely adjacent if not in engagement with the upper face of the bottom of the trigger guard 2; said cross pin also being ,relatively close to the front of said trigger guard. 'If thefirearm be of the type with an exposed cocking hammer, the

safety device is modified in the manner later described.

In order to prevent the cross pin 10 from damaging the trigger guard 2, such cross pinfor substantially its full length,-.is provided with a permanently secured, protective sleeve 11 of plastic or the like. 7

At the end adjacent the bore 8 the cross pin 10 is formed with an enlarged tapered-face head 12; the bore 8 being correspondingly tapered for the reception of such head in counter-sunk relation to the corresponding side 6 of the sheath 1.

The cross pin 10 is of a length substantially equal to the width of the sheath 1, and at the end opposite head 12 such cross pin is formed with an outwardly projecting tongue 13 having a vertical hole 14 therethrough. 'The cross pin 10 is held against rotation in the sheath'l, and with the hole 14 vertical, by means of an integral radial lug 15 on said pin adjacent the head 12, and which lug seats in matching relation in a notch side 6 of the sheath 1. j

After the sheath 1 is placed on the trigger guard 2,

16 in the adjacent followed by insertion of the cross pin 10, the bail 17 of cross pin 10, as well as the sheath 1, against accidental escape or unauthorized removal from said triggerguard 2. As a consequence the trigger 4 is effectively protected against being engaged and moved to cause discharge of device includes a permanent magnet 19 secured on the bottom of the sheath 1; such magnet extending upwardly, opening through the cushion lining '7, and being disposed so that'when the sheath 1 is in place said magnet occupies a position closely adjacent the bottom of the trigger guard 2.

The purpose of the magnet 19 is two-fold: Firstly, when the sheath 1 is initially placed on the trigger guard 2 such magnet holds the sheath in place preparatory to insertion of the cross pin greatly facilitating this operation. Secondly, at certain .times- -as on a firearm used in the field-it may be desired to use the sheath 1 temporarily and without application of the cross pin 1%. Under such circumstance the magnet 19 quick-detachably holds said sheath in place on the trigger guard.

In FIG. 5 there is illustrated a modification, wherein the cross pinhere illustrated at 20-is horizontally disposed and fixed at the head end to the upper portion of a post 21 which upstands in rigid relation from a horizontal base plate 22 provided with holes 23 adapted for reception of screws which secure said base plate 22to a shelf, table top, or the like for the purpose of commercial or home display of the firearm.

The firearm is supported from the cross pin 2%} by first applying the sheath 1 to the trigger guard 2, followed by insertion of said cross pin 22 through the sheath 1 in exactly the same manner as described in connection with FIGS. '1-4 inclusive. After the cross pin 2! is inserted through the sheath a padlock may be used, just as before; the cross pin 28 including, for this purpose, a tongue24 provided with a vertical hole 25.

In FIG. 6 the cross pin, here illustrated at 26, is fixedat its head endto a vertical wall plate 27 formed with holes 28 for the reception of screws, and by means of which said plate 27 is attached to the wall or the like. Here, just as in the embodiment of E6. 5, the purpose of the arrangement is to support the firearm for display. Also, at least one of the holes 28-as, for example, the lowermost one of said holes, as in FIG. 6is disposed close to the cross pin 26. Thus, when the firearm-with the sheath thereonis supported from and looked on the cross pin 26, the screw in such one hole 28 is inaccessible, which prevents theft of the firearm by removal of wall plate 27.

'In the embodiments of both FIGS. 5 and 6 the cross pin 20 or 26, respectively, includes a radial lug 29 in FIG. 5 and 30 in FIG. 6. Such lug, in either instance, engages in the notch 16 of the sheath 1, serving the purpose of preventing rotative movement of the firearm about the cross pin as an axis.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

' Having thus described the invention, thefollowing is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

I. A safety device, for a firearm having a trigger guard, comprising an initially separate trough-like sheath to engage :over and close the guard from below, the sheath including a bottom and sides, the latter having transversely alined bores therein, an initially separate headed cross pin insertible through said boreswhen the sheath is in place on the guard, the cross pin then extending through said guard adjacent the bottom thereof, means on the cross pin at the end opposite its head to lock said cross pin against unauthorized removal from the sheath, and means fixed in connection with the head end of the cross pin to secure the same to a fixed member in a horizontal clearance position.

2. A safety device, as in claim 1, in which said last named means includes a base plate, and a rigid post upstanding from the base plate; the cross pin radiating from the upper end of said post.

3. A safety device, as in claim 1, in which said last named means includes a vertical wall 'plate from which the cross pin radiates.

4. A safety device, as in claim3, in which the wall plate is formed with a plurality of holes for the reception of screws; at least one of said holes being disposed closely adjacent said cross pin.

'5. A safety device, as in claim 1, including means between the cross pin and sheath to prevent rotation of the latter about said pm as an axis, and from a predetermined position.

6. A safety device for a firearm having a trigger guard, said device comprising an initially separate trough-like sheath to engage over and close the guard from below, meansto releasably lock the sheath against removal from the guard, and a permanent magnet mounted in the sheath at the bottom thereof in facing and exposed relation to the adjacent portion of the guard in position for contact and magnetic holding engagement with said guard when the sheath is mounted thereon.

7. A safety device for a firearm having a trigger guard, said device comprising an initially separate trough-like sheath to engage over and close the guard from below, a retaining pin having a head on one end arranged to removably project through the sides of the sheath, a tongue projecting from the other end of the pin in offset relation to the axis thereof and having a hole therethrough radially of the pin to receive the hail of a padlock, and a locating element on the pin at the headed end thereof to engage in a notch in the sheath positioned so that the tongue is then below the axis of the pin with the hole therethrough in a vertical position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 835,349 Deming Nov. 6, 1906 2,641,793 Wilm June 16, 1953 2,724,303 Holcomb Nov. 22, 1955 2,742,726 Feller Apr. 24,.1956 2,861,344 Moore Nov. 25, 1958 2,874,503 Niesp Feb. 24, '1959 2,882,636 Shinaver Apr. 21, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, Feb. 1948, page 146. 

